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Application May 29, 1939. Serial No. 276,480

'26 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for displaying signs, advertisements, and the like, and more particularly to apparatus of this character in the nature of a changeable exhibitor for selecting and displaying any desired one of a series of signs or the like.

The invention contemplates the provision of a display cabinet containing a movable carrier on which is mounted a series of separate sheets or curtains, in rolled up condition, together with means for moving the carrier to bring the different curtains into position to be displayed, and means for unrolling the curtain thus brought into position, so that the information thereon may be :displayed to view. Such an arrangement is broadly old.

Among the objects of the present invention are to provide, in display apparatus of the above type, means for selecting any desired one of the curtains and bringing it into position to be displayed; to provide automatic means for first thus moving the carrier, and for thereupon rolling th selected curtain; to provide selecting and operating means of this character controlled electrically from a transmitter located at a remote control station; to provide such an electric control system requiring the use of a single circuit only; to so arrange the apparatus that the momentary closing of a switch at the control station will initiate the operation of the selecting and display mechanism which, having been thus thrown into operation, will proceed automatically to successively perform the several operations; and to provide-means for indicating to the operator at the transimtting station that the selected sign or the like has in fact been displayed.

With the above and other objects in view, and to improve generally on the details of such apparatus, the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of transmitting or controlling apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of one side thereof;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one end thereof;

5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Fig. looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the other side thereof;

Fig. '7 is a transverse horizontal section on the line ''l of Fig. looking upwardly;

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the same line,

locking downwardly;

Fig.9 is a fragmentary detailed section on the line 99 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10. is a vertical transverse section substantially on the line lll -I0 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 11 is a detailed horizontal section substantially onthe line H-ll of Fig. 10;

Figs. 12 and 12 together constitute a wiring diagram showing the arrangement of parts of both the transmitting and. display apparatus, and the circuit connections employed;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view of certain of the parts illustrated in Fig. 12 but showing such parts in a difierent relative position;

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the improved display apparatus, the curtains and associated parts being omitted for the sake of 'clearness;

Fig. 14 is an elevational View of one side of the display apparatus; 0.:

Fig. 17 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section through the end of one of the rollers illustrated in Figs. 13 and 15, and associated mechanism, parts being' shown in elevation;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged detailed elevational view of part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a horizontal section on the line l9l9 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is an elevation of one of the gear wheels shown in Figs. 18 and 19 Figs. 21 and 22 are vertical sectional views through the center of the display apparatus, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness, these views showing the selected curtain in rolled up and in unrolled position, respectively;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal section through one of the curtain rolls which is mounted on the movable carrier;

Fig. 24 is an elevation of one end thereof;

Fig. 25 is an elevation of the other end thereof;

Fig. 26 is a transverse section on the line 2525 of Fig. 23, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 26 is a section through the transmission gearing shown near the bottom of Fig. 14, illustrating a speed controlled brake;

Fig. 27 is a diagram showing how a plurality of display cabinets can be controlled from a sin- 3 gle transmitter; and

Figs. 28 and 29 are a plan View and transverse section respectively showing a modified form of transmitter which may be employed.

The invention has special utility when used as a train indicator employed to inform the public as to the location, destination and time of departure of trains leaving a station. Apparatus of this general nature is illustrated in prior Patent No. 2,010,263, dated August 6 1935, to Job Hutchinson.

The present invention, however, is by no means limited to such use, but is equally applicable for displaying signs or advertisements of any character whatsoever, and also for displaying textile materials such as rugs and the like.

While, therefore, in the following specification and claims the word curtain will be used, for simplicity, as referring to the rolled up sheets or webs mounted upon the movable carrier, it will be understood that this term is intended to include flexible material of any nature whatsoever.. Also, for simplicity, these rolled up sheets or curtains will be referred to as carrying signs, but obviously the matter to be displayed by the curtains may consist of pictures, maps, drawings, textile designs, or any other information which it is desired to display to the public.

As stated in the preamble, the improved apparatus constituting the present invention comprises a transmitter or control device, and a display apparatus. These are entirely independent mechanically, and are connected only by the necassary circuit wires. Insofar as possible, and for the sake of clearness, each will be described separately.

The transmitter The preferred form of transmitter or control apparatus is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 12 of the drawings. It includes a keyboard of the general type used on calculating machines and the like, and comprising a bank of keys or push buttons each having a number displayed on the face thereof.

"Referring to the drawings, the improved transmitter comprises an upper plate or table I and a lower plate 2 rigidly held in parallel spaced relation by means of posts 3. The lower plate 2 is supported on suitable legs 4 so as to provide a space beneath the same for the mounting of a motor and other necessary devices. The keys or push buttons are designated by the numeral 5, and as shown, each is mounted at the upper end of a thin, fiat, vertically extending shank 6 passing freely through the table l. These keys are arranged in rows, each row being assembled on a mounting strip or plate I, secured to the under side of the table I, in which plate the shanks 6 are mounted to reciprocate.

Referring to Fig. 10, each shank, at a point below the plate I, carries a cam device 8 having an inclined cam surface 9 with a notch I0 arranged above it. Below the cam surface 9, the device is laterally offset and carries adownwardly extending tail piece I! surrounded by a spring I2. This spring I2 bears at its lower end upon the horizontal portion I l of a bracket l3, depending from the table l. Pivctally mounted at its upper edge at is in each bracket I3 is a laterally swinging bar 15 having an offset lower edge IT. This edge I? is adapted to bear against the cam 9, as clearly shown at the right of Fig. 10, so that when any key in that row is depressed, the bar 55 will be caused to swing laterally on its pivots.

Rigidly secured to each bar is a depending arm 18, the lower ends of all of the arms l8 being pivotally connected to a transversely extending bar l9. Near one end, this bar carries a pin 20 which is adapted to engage the lower end of a spring contact 22!, mounted at its upper end on a block of insulation 23. When this contact spring 2| is engaged by the pin 20 and moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 10, it is adapted to engage a second contact spring 22, also mounted on the block 23 (see Fig. 6).

An electromagnet 26 is mounted in a suitable bracket 27 secured to the extended end I of the table 1 and is adapted to operate a swinging armature 25, pivoted at 25 (see Fig. 11) To this armature is rigidly secured a bracket 24, having a horizontally extending arm 24*, bifurcated at its end 24 and adapted to engage over the adjacent arm l8. Thus when the magnet is energized and the armature 25 swung on its pivot, the arm 24 tends to swing the arm I8 and associated parts toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 10. As hereinafter described, the energization of magnet 26 is controlled by the contacts 2| and 22.

Mounted on and depending from each bracket M is a vertically disposed strip 28 of insulating material (see Fig. 10), and on the face of this strip is mounted a series of pairs of contacts 29. To the lower end of the tail piece of each key shank, below the bracket I4, is secured a block of insulating material 30, on which is mounted a resilient contact spring 3 I, having at its top a pair of spaced, bent over fingers, as shown in Fig. 10, and adapted to engage the contacts 29.

By reference to Fig. 6, it will be seen that one of each pair of contacts 29 is provided at its upper end with a laterally extending or offset portion 29 The resilient fingers of contact 3| are so spaced that when the key shank is in its upper or normal position, one of these fingers will engage the contact 29 of a pair and the other finger will engage the extension 29 of the other contact, thus bridging the pair of contacts. When, however. the key is depressed, as shown near the right in Fig. 6, the finger moves down out of contact with the offset portion 29 of the contact 29, so that these contacts are no longer bridged. In the diagram of Fig. 12, each pair of contacts is illustrated, for the sake of simplicity and clearness, as comprising a long contact 29 and a short contact 29*, so that when the contact 3! is depressed, it moves off of the short contact 29 and thus no longer serves to connect the contacts of the pair.

As clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6, a late or table 32 of insulating material, and somewhat smaller than the plate 2, is supported a short distance above the latter by means of posts 33, and on the lower surface of this plate is mounted an arcuate series of contact buttons 31, each button being connected with a terminal 36 at the upper side of the plate. As shown in Fig. 6, the adjacent contacts 29 of each consecutive pair are connected by a conductor 34, and from each pair of contacts thus connected extends a wire 35, to one of the terminals 36. This is also clearly set forth diagrammatically in Fig. 12.

In practice, and as shown in Fig. 7, the contact buttons 37 are preferably arranged in the form of two concentric arcuate series. Adapted to engage and wipe over these contact buttons is a pair of connected spring fingers 38 (see Fig. 8), carried at the end of an arm 39, secured to a shaft 49, and positioned thereon by means of collars M and 62. This shaft passes downwardly through the plate 2 and carries at its lower end a worm wheel 43, meshing with a worm 44, secured to the shaft of an electric motor 45,

mounted on the under side of the plate 2. Acontact spring 15 engages the lower end of the shaft 40, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 10, and is mounted on a suitable bracket 41. A suitable rheostat 48 (Figs. 2 and 3) may be employed for controlling the speed of the motor and a resistance 49 is preferably connected in series with the motor, as shown in Fig. 12.

On the shaft of motor 45 is secured a cam 5! adapted to strike against and move the curved end of a spring contact 5!, which in turn is adapted to engage a second contact 52. A condenser 53 is preferably connected across these contacts so as to prevent sparking.

Also mounted at the lower side of the plate 2 is an electromagnet 55, having an armature 56 carried by a spring strip 5'! mounted to engage a contact 58. An adjustable insulated back stop 59 is carried by a curved bracket Eli, and adapted to engage the other side of the spring strip 51, as shown in Figs. 3 and 10.

A pilot lamp 6! is preferably mounted in the table I for the purpose of indicating to the operator when the apparatus is energized.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 8 and 9, it will be seen that beneath the plate 2, I also mount a spring contact 62 and a second contact 63, arranged to cooperate therewith. The spring contact '32 carries a pin 64 projecting freely through the plate 2 and having a rounded end adapted to be engaged by a cylindrical portion 65 of insulating material formed at the end of a second arm or lever 65, also rigid- 1y carried by the shaft 49. When the portion 65 of this arm sweeps over the pin 54, it will depress the pin and force the contacts 62 and 63 into engagement.

As clearly shown in Fig. 12, a pair of conductors 61 connects the contacts 52 and G3 with the terminals of the winding of magnet 55, and a wire 68 (which is in practice attached to the spring finger 46) connects the shaft 49 with the contacts 5!, which is operated by the cam on the shaft of motor 45. A second wire 69 extends from the other contact 5| to the display apparatus, as shown in Figs. l2 and GZ In these figures, l0 and H designate the positive and negative supply leads respectively, for furnishing current to operate the apparatus, but it will be noted that apart from these supply leads, the wire 63 constitutes the sole connection between the transmitter and the display apparatus, for controlling the latter from the former. In practice, it of course is not necessary for the supply leads 1B and H to extend from the transmitter to the display apparatus, as shown in the drawings, since each of these devices may be plugged in to a suitable source of supply at the respective stations, provided both sources of supply are fed from the same generating system.

A wire '12 connects the positive supply lead through the contacts 2! and 22 with one side of the magnet 2'5, the other side of which is con.- nected by wire 13 with one terminal of magnet 55, while the other terminal of this magnet is connected through resistance t9 and wire M with one side of the motor 45, theother side of which is connected by wire 55 to the negative lead. A wire it also extends from the contact 29 of the first pair of key controlled contacts to the negative lead. The pilot 61 is connected between one terminal of the magnet 55 and the negative lead.

The display apparatus Referring now to Figs. 13 to 26, inclusive, the display apparatus comprises a cabinet having side walls El and 78 (see Fig. 13) connected by tie rods '19. A shaft 80 is journalled in the side walls Hand '58 near the upper end thereof and has secured thereto, inside of said walls, a pair of spaced sprocket wheelsfil.

A second shaft 82 is similarly iournalled near the lower end of the cabinet, and carries a pair of similarly spaced sprocket wheels 83. A pair of sprocket chains 8 passes around the respective pairs of sprocket wheels BI and 83, as indicated in Figs. 14, 15, 21 and 22.

A gear wheel 85 is also secured to the shaft 80,

outside of the cabinet, and meshes with a pinion 86, mounted on a stub shaft and rigid with a sprocket wheel 81, around which runs a sprocket chain 88, engaging a sprocket pinion 89, journalled on a stub shaft rigidly spaced from the shaft on which the sprocket wheel 8? is mounted. by a brace 96. Rigid with the sprocket pinion 89 is a brake wheel iii, engaged by a brake band 92 in the form of a strap, anchored at one end, as at 93, and connected at its other end with a lug 2 3 projecting from the frame of a motor it, this lug 9 1 being connected by a spring to one end st of a'bracket ill, pivoted to the wall H of the cabinet at B8, and formed with an arcuateslot 9%} in which works a set screw, by means of which the angular position of the bracket, and thus the tension of the spring 95 may be varied, as desired.

The motor Hi0, above referred to, is clearly shown in Fig. 13 and is illustrated as pivotally mounted at ill! in a bracket M2 secured to the wall T! of the cabinet. This wall has an opening H through which passes the lug M, above mentioned, and also the shaft of the motor, on which is mounted a friction pulley Hi6. Pm electromagnet R93 is rigidly mounted on the motor frame M8, and is adapted to attract an armatine 5M pivoted at one end to the motor frame and secured at its other end to one end of a spring M5, the other end of which is anchored to the cabinet.

As hereinafter described, the magnet W3 is connected in series with the motor Hill, and when energized, attracts its armature. This serves to rock the motor Hit on its pivots lili and to resiliently press the friction pulley 5% down upon the wheel 9 I. At the same time, the tilting movement of the motor moves the. lug 9 3 downwardly against the tension of the spring thus relieving the tension on the brake band ii?! and permitting the wheel 9! to turn. Thus the same movement of the motor releases the brake and simultane ously applies a friction drive to the wheel iii.

This, in turn, through the pinion 59, chain 533.

sprocket 8'5, pinion 86 and 35 drives the shaft 80, carrying the sprocket wheels 8!.

To one of the sprocket chains M'is secured a series of spaced brackets it! (see Figs. 23 and 26), each bracket having a notch its in the outer end thereof and having a laterally extending portion H19 at the inner end thereof. To the chain adjacent each bracket Hl'l is also secured an oppositely directed bracket lit to the free end of which is rigidly attached one end of a leaf l 62, having an opening i l 3 near the other end thereof.

To the other chain 84 is secured 'a series of similarly spaced brackets '6 i l, each having a circular opening l5 therein.

Mounted in the brackets iii! and Hi, secured to the chains 84, are-a series of spring rollers on 

